Similar to 149 lbs, 157 lbs saw a fair share of graduation which will open up the door for some others to come in and prove themselves this season. It'll be fun to see how it all unfolds.
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| Sal Silva Southeastern |
The NJCAA champion for North Idaho added an NAIA title to his resume for the Fire last season, claiming his second All American honor (5th in '22). He will look to win a second national title this year, as well as another Appalachian Athletic Conference title.
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| Trace Braun Southeastern |
Right there in the room with Silva will be two time NAIA qualifier Trace Braun who was 5th in both the Appalachian Conference & the Life Open last season. He also had an 8th place finish at the Missouri Valley invitational.
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| Donald Giffin Central Methodist |
The Lindenwood transfer had himself an outstanding season last year which saw medals collected at three major tournaments. 4th in the NAIA championships themselves, he was 3rd in the Heart of America & 2nd at the Missouri Valley Invitational.
The Vikings took both NAIA silver (Israel Casarez) & NAIA bronze (Gio Bonilla) at last year's NAIA championships. Both are now gone due to eligibility expiration, but no need to worry Grand View fans. Psycho Sid ruled the WWE for a spell in 1996 & GVU has ruled NAIA wrestling for the most part for well over a decade. They are not hurting at 157 lbs. Matter of fact, I'd say the polar opposite. Dylan Whitt won the Missouri Valley Invitational last season. Did so by nearly majoring Griffin 12-6. The sophomore as far as I'm concerned is a title contender.
Like Grand View, Life is anything but hurting for talent at 157 lbs. Back is Steve Villalobos who had a great season last year which saw a 7th place NAIA finish, a 3rd place Appalachian Athletic Conference finish, a 4th place finish at Grand View & a championship at Life. I would like to think that the Runnin' Eagles would consider putting two in for the post season, as I would hate to think that Angel Hernandez would go another season without seeing an opportunity at conference or the NAIA's. To give note to how tough he is, he's taken back to back 6th place finishes at the Missouri Valley Invitational the past two years.
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| Dylan Whitt Grand View |
The Vikings took both NAIA silver (Israel Casarez) & NAIA bronze (Gio Bonilla) at last year's NAIA championships. Both are now gone due to eligibility expiration, but no need to worry Grand View fans. Psycho Sid ruled the WWE for a spell in 1996 & GVU has ruled NAIA wrestling for the most part for well over a decade. They are not hurting at 157 lbs. Matter of fact, I'd say the polar opposite. Dylan Whitt won the Missouri Valley Invitational last season. Did so by nearly majoring Griffin 12-6. The sophomore as far as I'm concerned is a title contender.
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| Steve Villalobos Angel Hernandez Life |
Like Grand View, Life is anything but hurting for talent at 157 lbs. Back is Steve Villalobos who had a great season last year which saw a 7th place NAIA finish, a 3rd place Appalachian Athletic Conference finish, a 4th place finish at Grand View & a championship at Life. I would like to think that the Runnin' Eagles would consider putting two in for the post season, as I would hate to think that Angel Hernandez would go another season without seeing an opportunity at conference or the NAIA's. To give note to how tough he is, he's taken back to back 6th place finishes at the Missouri Valley Invitational the past two years.
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| Trevor Burdick Reinhardt |
The four time Georgia High School state champ had a heck of a start for the Eagles last season which ended in a 4th place finish at the Appalachian Athletic Conference & an 8th place finish at the NAIA's.
The Statesmen goes into this final season looking to earn his first All American honor. Finishing one match shy of a top 8 NAIA showing last year, he was 5th in the Heart of America, taking runner-up honors at the Falcon Invitational.
Another tough sophomore who returns after a stellar freshman campaign is Aden Graves of Providence. The Argonaut took runner-up honors at the Cascade Conference, placing 4th at the Grand View Open.
Eli Clemmons goes into his junior season having won a Mid-South Conference title, with a 4th place finish at the Life Open & a runner-up finish at the Patriot Open.
The two time NAIA qualifier was third in the Mid South last season, as he heads into his final year as an Eagle. He'll also be going for a third Missouri Invitational medal as he's been 8th & 5th the past two seasons.
Moyer heads into his sophomore season after placing 4th in the Mid-South Conference last season.
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| Kael Bunce William Penn |
The Statesmen goes into this final season looking to earn his first All American honor. Finishing one match shy of a top 8 NAIA showing last year, he was 5th in the Heart of America, taking runner-up honors at the Falcon Invitational.
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| Aden Graves Providence |
Another tough sophomore who returns after a stellar freshman campaign is Aden Graves of Providence. The Argonaut took runner-up honors at the Cascade Conference, placing 4th at the Grand View Open.
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| Eli Clemmons Cumberland |
Eli Clemmons goes into his junior season having won a Mid-South Conference title, with a 4th place finish at the Life Open & a runner-up finish at the Patriot Open.
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| Brent Hudgins Midway |
The two time NAIA qualifier was third in the Mid South last season, as he heads into his final year as an Eagle. He'll also be going for a third Missouri Invitational medal as he's been 8th & 5th the past two seasons.
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| Westyn Moyer Rio Grande |
Moyer heads into his sophomore season after placing 4th in the Mid-South Conference last season.
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| Kailan Keith Thomas More |
Keith heads into his senior season looking to improve on back to back 5th place finishes in the Mid-South Conference.
Brink won a KCAC title for the Eagles last season & will look to do so again this season as he'll also search for All American honors.
There's a chance that Zamilpa could go down to 149 lbs this season, but leaving him at 157 for now because it is where he qualified for NAIA's at last season. Was Runner-up in the GPAC.
A Conference champion last season, as well as 4th at the Missouri Valley Invitational, Drake Vannoy looks to win another conference title, another Mo Valley medal & fight for All American honors this year.
The Warriors may have lost Nate Wheeler due to eligibility expiration, but not to worry Indiana Tech fans, he has an excellent replacement. Elijah Chacon goes into what I believe will either be his sophomore or junior season, having finished a very impressive 3rd at the Missouri Valley Invitational last year. This included sticking Brent Hudgins in the first period.
Cannon was 3rd in the conference back in 2022 & 3rd at the Doane Open last season.
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| Karter Brink Avila |
Brink won a KCAC title for the Eagles last season & will look to do so again this season as he'll also search for All American honors.
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| Tristan Zamilpa Doane |
There's a chance that Zamilpa could go down to 149 lbs this season, but leaving him at 157 for now because it is where he qualified for NAIA's at last season. Was Runner-up in the GPAC.
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| Drake Vannoy Oklahoma City |
A Conference champion last season, as well as 4th at the Missouri Valley Invitational, Drake Vannoy looks to win another conference title, another Mo Valley medal & fight for All American honors this year.
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| Elijah Chacon Indiana Tech |
The Warriors may have lost Nate Wheeler due to eligibility expiration, but not to worry Indiana Tech fans, he has an excellent replacement. Elijah Chacon goes into what I believe will either be his sophomore or junior season, having finished a very impressive 3rd at the Missouri Valley Invitational last year. This included sticking Brent Hudgins in the first period.
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| Jerome Cannon Central Christian |
Cannon was 3rd in the conference back in 2022 & 3rd at the Doane Open last season.
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